Problem with Dell Laptop reading original DVDs

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Colleague bought a Dell Laptop from Makro.

Laptop's DVD drive does not read certain ORIGINAL DVD discs. \

A quick internet search seems to reveal this is a common problem with this range of Dell laptops.

Here is where I lost the plot a little. He contacted Dell support services in the Philippines or Indonesia (call centre) and they did some diagnostics via Remote Desktop.

The end result (and I have seen this in writing from them) is that "this is a limitation of the DVD drive we are aware of. Nothing can be done." So a DVD drive that cannot read an ORIGINAL DVD is acceptable?

I then advised my colleague to take it back to Makro (with the evidence of what Dell support said as well as many forum printouts of other people around the world with the exact same issues). The Makro supervisors response is where I really had a WTF moment.

It is as follows: "sir, this is how they are made. If you wanted a laptop that reads all DVDs you should perhaps buy cheaper brand".

Is this what the world is coming to? Am I just expecting too much?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sounds like DVD region locking. Legally Dell can't provide a solution but there's probably an unofficial method of removing region checking - ask around.
 
ambroseg1 said:
Colleague bought a Dell Laptop from Makro.

Laptop's DVD drive does not read certain ORIGINAL DVD discs. \

A quick internet search seems to reveal this is a common problem with this range of Dell laptops.

Here is where I lost the plot a little. He contacted Dell support services in the Philippines or Indonesia (call centre) and they did some diagnostics via Remote Desktop.

The end result (and I have seen this in writing from them) is that "this is a limitation of the DVD drive we are aware of. Nothing can be done." So a DVD drive that cannot read an ORIGINAL DVD is acceptable?

I then advised my colleague to take it back to Makro (with the evidence of what Dell support said as well as many forum printouts of other people around the world with the exact same issues). The Makro supervisors response is where I really had a WTF moment.

It is as follows: "sir, this is how they are made. If you wanted a laptop that reads all DVDs you should perhaps buy cheaper brand".

Is this what the world is coming to? Am I just expecting too much?
Click to expand...

Not sure, most DVD readers are rubish with their issues concerning DVD +R or DVD - R, seems it was an issue created by the industry not keeping a standard everyone can use ( http://www.diffen.com/difference/DVD+R_vs_DVD-R )
 
The last two laptops I bought came without DVD drives.
I should take them back as well.
 
Entire post is useless without the actual model number.

FWIW: I'm on my 3rd Dell notebook (3 year upgrade cycle) and have no complaints. Their NBD onsite support is tops.
 
MickZA said:
Sounds like DVD region locking. Legally Dell can't provide a solution but there's probably an unofficial method of removing region checking - ask around.
Click to expand...

It is NOT region locking. The laptop does not read some original DVDs at all. When you insert them, it is not detected at all. Says "no media in drive" or "drive is empty".
 
MickZA said:
Sounds like DVD region locking. Legally Dell can't provide a solution but there's probably an unofficial method of removing region checking - ask around.
Click to expand...

^^^ what he says.

Most DVDs - other than those used for data/software/etc. - are region-locked as a result of US law, and have been for many years.

So one can't blame Dell - or the Makro supervisor.
 
Some DVD drives have that problem.
It reads some and it can't read others.
All it does is spin forever and sometimes spin faster than usual.

I don't use DVD roms or anything anymore, F### it.
 
I had this issue with some LG or Samsung drive in my desktop. A driver update should fix it.
 
Title updated to something less sensational while we wait for the model details.
 
So the title of my thread is allowed to be edited? Surely following this line of thinking, 90% of the topics in the news and current affairs section also has to be edited?
 
ambroseg1 said:
So the title of my thread is allowed to be edited? Surely following this line of thinking, 90% of the topics in the news and current affairs section also has to be edited?
Click to expand...

LOL. There is a clear set of rules for N&CA. Thread title must match the title of the article, but how can I argue with that 90% figure which seems to have no factual evidence behind it?

Your "warning" hardly applies to all Dell laptops, nor is it a problem unique to Dell. The new title IMHO describes in much more detail what the problem is even though we still don't know which model we should be avoiding if we want to play original DVDs.
 
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